The icy winds of Gjallar's Cradle clawed at Velkharion as he stood at the edge of the dungeon's frozen expanse. Snow spiraled in fierce gusts, and massive frost-covered cliffs loomed on either side, forming a natural gateway. Ahead, the broken ruins of ancient Asgardian structures protruded from the snow, and in the distance, massive figures lumbered—the unmistakable forms of Frost Giants, their presence suffusing the air with tension.
Velkharion adjusted Crimson Fang on his shoulder, his fiery, glowing eyes cutting through the swirling snow. The weight of the blessings, subclasses, and temporary boosts settled in his chest, along with the heavy realization of his task.
He opened his HUD, his gaze lingering briefly on the timer: 24:53:47.
"Not much time," he muttered, exhaling a cloud of mist. "Guess I'll level up along the way. Can't waste these buffs."
As Velkharion descended into the glacial canyon, the frosted walls around him seemed to shift, the uneven terrain forcing him to navigate carefully. The first engagement came swiftly—a pair of Frost Giant Guards burst from a snow-laden outcrop, their massive axes gleaming with frost-infused runes. Their guttural roars echoed as they charged, the ground trembling beneath their weight.
Velkharion didn't flinch. He planted his feet, raising a hand as runes began to glow around him. "Fourth Tier Magic: Writhing Briar Bastion!"
The ground erupted with massive, thorn-covered vines glowing with faint emerald light, forming a towering wall between him and the charging giants. The frost giants collided with the briar wall, their momentum halting as the enchanted vines lashed out, wrapping around their limbs and cutting into their thick armor.
Effect of Writhing Briar Bastion: Immobilized targets for 10 seconds.
Velkharion stepped forward, his hand crackling with frostfire. "Triplet Maximize Magic: Explosive Ice Spears!" Three shimmering spears of crystallized frost shot forth, their surfaces glowing with fiery energy. The spears struck one of the Frost Giants in rapid succession, each impact detonating in a powerful explosion of frost and flame.
Damage Dealt with Explosive Ice Spears: 220 Magic ATK per hit.
Effect: Target movement speed reduced by 30%.
The first giant staggered, frost and fire spreading across its massive frame. The second roared in defiance, tearing free from the briar wall and lunging forward with a wide swing of its axe. Velkharion invoked another spell, his voice steady: "Third Tier Magic: Verdant Glade Step."
In an instant, glowing roots wrapped around his feet, pulling him into the ground and reemerging several meters away. The giant's axe cleaved through empty air where he had just stood.
After dispatching the guards, Velkharion advanced deeper into the Cradle. The wind howled through the canyon, and the frost-ridden terrain grew increasingly treacherous. Eventually, he reached an open area where the jagged cliffs gave way to a massive frozen plateau.
Waiting for him at the center of the plateau was a towering figure clad in frost-enchanted plate armor—Jokthal the Frigid, the Vanguard Captain of the Frost Giant King's forces. His glowing greatsword emitted an aura of frost so powerful that the very air around him shimmered with cold.
"Interloper," Jokthal bellowed, his voice rumbling like an avalanche. "This land is sacred to the Jotun King. You trespass at your peril!"
Velkharion smirked, gripping Crimson Fang tightly. "I hear this a lot. Let's get this over with."
Jokthal roared, raising his greatsword as he charged. His weapon split the ground with frost-runes as he swung, sending a wave of jagged ice spikes toward Velkharion.
Velkharion invoked his next spell, a faint green aura wrapping around his hand. "Maximize Magic: Sylvan Veil of Brambles!"
A spiraling barrier of glowing brambles erupted around Velkharion, shattering the incoming ice spikes and shielding him from the attack. He followed up quickly, raising his sword and channeling runes across its length. "Runic Engraving: Emberlash Blade!" Flames wrapped around Crimson Fang, imbuing it with fire magic as he surged forward to meet Jokthal head-on.
The two clashed, the impact sending shockwaves of ice and fire rippling across the battlefield. Jokthal's frost-infused strength was overwhelming, but Velkharion countered with his agility and tactical use of spells.
As the battle wore on, Jokthal's attacks grew slower, his frost aura flickering with each strike. Velkharion seized the opportunity to end the fight. He leapt back, raising both hands as runes materialized around him.
"Sixth Tier Magic: Bloomstorm of Sovereignty!" he roared, his voice echoing across the plateau.
The sky darkened as a vortex of radiant petals and glowing vines erupted from the ground, engulfing Jokthal in a storm of nature magic. The petals, infused with elemental fire and frost, slashed through his armor, while the glowing vines constricted his movements.
Damage Dealt with Bloomstorm of Sovereignty: 300 Magic ATK.
Jokthal let out a final roar of defiance before collapsing to his knees, his massive frame shattering like ice under pressure. As the storm subsided, Velkharion stood over his defeated foe, his breath visible in the frigid air.
A notification appeared in Velkharion's HUD:
Boss Defeated: Jokthal the Frigid. XP Gained: +5,000. Rare Item Acquired: Frigid Heart of Jotun.
The frost-covered plateau grew quiet, the only sound being the faint whistle of the wind. Ahead, Velkharion saw the ruins of the Temple of Jotun's Wrath, its ancient spires reaching skyward. He exhaled slowly, sheathing Crimson Fang as he stepped forward.
"This was just the beginning," he muttered, his gaze locked on the distant temple. "Let's see what else you've got."
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